Workers Compensation
The SIRA workers injury claim form was updated on 1 July 2026. It now separates physical and psychological injury, and the detail a worker provides shapes how quickly the insurer can decide liability.
What the workers injury claim form is for
The workers injury claim form (SIRA08684) is how an injured worker formally claims weekly payments and medical, hospital and rehabilitation expenses. A worker completes it after telling their employer about the injury and getting a certificate of capacity or medical certificate from their doctor. The employer then has 7 days to pass the completed form and attachments to the insurer.
For an injury manager, the form is the first structured picture of the claim: who the worker is, what happened, the nature of the injury, the nominated treating doctor, and the earnings that will drive any weekly payment. The quality of what arrives here sets the pace of everything that follows.
What each section captures
The form runs across nine sections. Sections 1 to 5, 8 and 9 must be completed for every claim, along with the certificate. Sections 6 and 7 are added when the worker has had time off and needs weekly payments.
- Section 1 to 3: the worker's details, their job and employer, and what happened, including whether the incident was witnessed or reported to SafeWork NSW or police.
- Section 4A: physical injury details, including when it was first noticed and reported.
- Section 4B: psychological injury details, including the relevant event that caused it.
- Section 5: the nominated treating doctor and any other providers already involved.
- Sections 6 and 7: earnings and return to work, used to calculate pre-injury average weekly earnings.
Why the psychological injury section is different now
The 2026 form reflects the psychological injury reforms. Section 4B asks the worker to identify the relevant event that caused a primary psychological injury, for example an act of violence, witnessing a traumatic incident, bullying, sexual or racial harassment, or excessive work demands. Where the cause is bullying, harassment or excessive work demands, the worker must also describe the conduct, dates, people involved and any witnesses, and disclose any related court or tribunal proceedings.
This matters because the relevant event determines the claims pathway, the entitlements available and the decision timeframe. A claim that does not identify a relevant event may not be compensable at all.
What injury managers should check on lodgement
Before the clock starts on a liability decision, confirm the form carries the essentials: a signed certificate of capacity, evidence of earnings where there has been time off, the nominated treating doctor's details, and a signed declaration on page 11. On a psychological claim, check that at least one relevant event is identified and, for relevant conduct claims, that the minimum information about the conduct is present.
Where medication is already part of the picture, the doctor and treatment details on the form are the starting point for an early, objective view of the worker's script before it compounds.
Key Takeaways
- The workers injury claim form effective 1 July 2026 separates physical injury (4A) and psychological injury (4B).
- Every claim needs sections 1 to 5, 8 and 9 plus a signed certificate of capacity or medical certificate.
- The psychological section asks the worker to identify the relevant event, which sets the claims pathway.
- Earnings evidence in sections 6 and 7 drives the pre-injury average weekly earnings calculation.
- An incomplete form is the most common cause of a delayed first payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed on the SIRA workers injury claim form in 2026?
The form effective 1 July 2026 separates physical injury and psychological injury into sections 4A and 4B. The psychological section asks the worker to identify the relevant event that caused the injury, which now drives the claims pathway and the timeframe for a liability decision.
Does a claim form need a certificate of capacity?
Yes. A signed certificate of capacity or medical certificate must be provided with the form for all claims. Without a current certificate, the insurer cannot properly assess weekly payments and may not start or continue them.
How long does the insurer have to decide the claim?
For most claims the insurer has 21 days from receiving the claim form to accept or dispute liability. Relevant conduct psychological claims, such as bullying or harassment, run on a separate 42 day pathway with interim payments in the meantime.
Primary source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), Worker's injury claim form (SIRA08684), effective 1 July 2026.
